Low profile ivc filter

ABSTRACT

Intravascular filtering devices for placement within a blood vessel are disclosed. An intravascular filter in accordance with the present invention may include a plurality of elongated filter legs biased to radially expand from a collapsed position to a conical-shaped position when deployed in a blood vessel. Each of the filter legs may include a hook region configured to engage the vessel wall. The filter legs may vary in length and/or cross-sectional diameter. In certain embodiments, the dimensions and/or orientation of the hook regions can be configured to allow the filter device to be collapsed into a relatively small introducer catheter or sheath.

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/361,063, filed Feb. 7, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for filtering blood clotswithin a vessel. More specifically, the present invention pertains tofilters implantable within the vena cava.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vena cava filters are typically used in combination with otherthrombolytic agents to treat pulmonary embolism within a patient. Thesedevices are generally implanted within a vessel such as the inferiorvena cava, and function by capturing blood clots (emboli) contained inthe blood stream before they can reach the lungs and cause permanentdamage to the patient. To trap emboli contained within the blood, manyconventional vena cava filters utilize a plurality of elongated filterlegs that can be expanded within the body to form a conical-shapedsurface that captures blood clots without disturbing the flow of blood.Once collected, a natural clot lysing process occurs within the body todissolve the blood clots collected by the filter.

Delivery of the vena cava filter within the body is generallyaccomplished via an introducer catheter or sheath percutaneouslyinserted through the femoral (groin) or jugular (neck) veins. Suchintroducer catheters or sheaths are generally tubular in shape, andinclude an inner lumen configured to transport the filter in a collapsedposition through the body. Once transported to a desired location in thebody (e.g. the inferior vena cava), the filter can then be removed fromwithin the catheter or sheath, allowing the filter legs to spring openand engage the vessel wall. A hook, barb or other piercing meansdisposed on the base of each filter leg can be used to secure the filterto the vessel wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices for filtering bloodclots within a vessel. In an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, an intravascular filter may comprise a plurality of elongatedfilter leg biased to radially expand from a collapsed position to aconical-shaped position when deployed in the blood vessel. Each filterleg may be attached proximally to an apical head, and may include one ormore zigzag regions along their length to increase to clot capturabilityof the filter. A hook region on the distal section of each filter legmay be configured to pierce the vessel wall to secure the filter withinthe blood vessel.

According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more of thefilter legs may vary in length such that the hook regions on thediffering filter legs are longitudinally offset from each other. Thelength of each filter leg may vary individually, or may be arranged inopposing sets wherein each set of filter legs is longitudinally offsetfrom each other. In certain embodiments, the cross-sectional diameter ofone or more of the filter legs may be reduced. The variable lengthand/or the reduced cross-sectional diameter of the filter legs reducesthe overall profile of the filter, allowing the device to be insertedinto a relatively small introducer catheter or sheath.

The hook region on each filter leg may comprise a main section, areversibly bent section, and a pointed tip section. The reversibly bentsection may be bent through an angle of about 180° in the planetangential to the conical configuration of the filter leg and contiguousto the main section. The reversibly bent section may be disposed at anangle relative to the main section, or in the alternative, may bedisposed parallel to the main section. The pointed tip section of thehook region extends at an angle from the reversibly bent section and isoriented in a direction towards the vessel wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the an intravascular filter inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the intravascular filter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the intravascular filter of FIG. 1,showing the distal section of the filter legs in a collapsed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the distal portion of an intravascularfilter in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the filter includes longitudinally offset hooks withno hook bend;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the distal portion of an intravascularfilter in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the filter includes longitudinally offset hooks withno hook bend and a reduced height;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the distal portion of an intravascularfilter in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the filter includes longitudinally offset sets ofopposing filter legs; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the intravascular filter of FIG. 6 alongline 7-7, showing the cross-sectional diameter of the filter legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings,in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in likefashion. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depictselected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention. Although examples of construction, dimensions, and materialsare illustrated for the various elements, those skilled in the art willrecognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternativesthat may be utilized.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intravascular filter 10 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Intravascularfilter 10 comprises an apical head 12, and a plurality of elongatedfilter legs 14 each having a proximal section 16 and a distal section18. Each of the filter legs 14 are biased to radially expand from asubstantially straight position when collapsed within an introducercatheter or sheath to an outswept, conical-shaped position when deployedin the blood vessel. A hook region 20 on the distal section 18 of eachfilter leg 14 is configured to pierce the vessel wall to secure thefilter 10 within the blood vessel.

The filter legs 14 may be formed from a metal or metal alloy such astitanium, platinum, tantalum, tungsten, stainless steel (e.g. type 304or 316) or cobalt-chrome alloy. The filter legs 14 may include ananti-thrombogenic coating such as herapin (or its derivatives),urokinase, or PPack (dextrophenylalanine proline argininechloromethylketone) to prevent insertion site thrombosis. In certainembodiments, the filter legs 14 may be formed from a shape-memorymaterial such as nickel-titanium alloy (Nitinol). A slight outward bendcan be imparted to each filter leg 14 by heating the alloy beyond itsfinal austenitic temperature, and then bending the filter leg 14 to apre-defined shape. The filter legs 14 can be configured to revert totheir pre-defined (i.e. bent) shape at or near body temperature (37°C.), allowing each individual filter leg 14 to maintain a straightposition until deployed in the vessel.

The length of each filter leg 14 may vary such that the hook regions 20on the various filter legs 14 are longitudinally offset from each other.As shown in FIG. 1, for example, filter 10 may include six independentfilter legs each of differing length. The respective lengths of eachfilter leg 14 can be selected such that, when the filter 10 is radiallycollapsed and loaded into the introducer catheter or sheath, the hookregions 20 on each filter leg 14 are spaced apart from each other. Thisstaggered arrangement reduces the overall profile of the filter 10, andreduces the likelihood that the hook regions 20 on each filter leg 14will interfere with each other when the filter 10 is radially expandedwithin the vessel.

One or more zigzag regions 22 disposed along the length of each leg 14may be employed to increase the total surface area of the filter 10, andto impart flexibility to the filter legs 14. The size and shape of theone or more zigzag regions 22 can be selected to impart a particulardegree of clot capturability within the vessel while maintaining theflow of blood through the filter 10. In those embodiments employing ashape-memory material, the zigzag regions 22 can be configured to revertfrom a straight shape to the zigzag shape when deployed in the vessel,further reducing the profile of the filter legs 14 during delivery.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of filter 10, showing the arrangementof the filter legs 14 about the apical head 12. As shown in FIG. 2, thefilter legs 14 diverge at various angles from the apical head 12 suchthat the hook region 20 on each filter leg 14 engages the vessel wall atapproximately the same longitudinal location within the vessel,indicated by base B. The filter legs 14 can be disposedcircumferentially at equidistant (i.e. 60°) intervals with respect toeach other such that the filter 10 symmetrically engages the vesselwall.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the distal portion of the filterlegs 14 in a radially collapsed position prior to being loaded into theintroducer catheter or sheath. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the filterlegs 14 may vary in length such that the hook regions 20 arelongitudinally offset from each other when the filter 10 is in thecollapsed position.

The hook region 20 of each filter leg 14 includes a main section 24, areversibly bent section 26, and a pointed tip section 28. The reversiblybent section 26 is bent through an angle of about 180° in the planetangential to the conical configuration of the filter leg 14, and isdisposed contiguous to the main section 24, forming a landing pad thatprevents the pointed tip section 28 from distending the wall of thevessel. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, thereversibly bent section 26 bends at an angle θ relative to the mainsection 24.

The pointed tip section 28 is bent at an angle a relative to thereversibly bent section 26, thus orienting the pointed tip section 28 ina direction towards the vessel wall. The pointed tip section 28 of hookregion 20 is configured to pierce the vessel wall, but is prevented fromdistending the wall of the vessel via the reversibly bent section 26.

The profile of the filter in the collapsed position may be in the rangeof 5 Fr. to 12 Fr., and more specifically, 5 Fr. to 9 Fr., depending onthe dimensions and orientation of the filter legs and hook regions. Incertain embodiments employing several of the features described herein,the profile of the filter in the collapsed position may be 5 or 6 Fr.,allowing the device to be inserted into a smaller introducer catheter orsheath. The reduction in the overall profile of the filter may, undercertain conditions, permit the filter to be inserted into the body atdifferent locations other than through the femoral or jugular veins(e.g. the antecubital region) of the patient.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the distal portion of an intravascularfilter 110 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 4, hook region 120 comprises a main section124, a reversibly bent section 126, and a pointed tip section 128. Inthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the reversibly bent section126 is bent through an angle of about 180° in the plane tangential tothe conical configuration of the filter leg 114, and is disposedparallel (i.e. θ=0°) and contiguous to the main section 124. The pointedtip section 128 of the hook region 120 is bent at an angle relative tothe reversibly bent section 126, orienting the pointed tip section 28 ina direction towards the vessel wall. In use, the parallel configurationof the reversibly bent section 126 with the main section 125 reduces theoverall profile of the filter 10, allowing the use of a smallerintroducer catheter or sheath.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the distal portion of an intravascularfilter 210 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the filter 210 includes longitudinally offset hookswith no hook bend and a reduced height. As shown in FIG. 5, hook region220 comprises a main section 224, a reversibly bent section 226 bentthrough an angle of about 180° in the plane tangential to the conicalconfiguration of the filter leg 214 and disposed parallel and contiguousto the main section 224, and a pointed tip section 228 that is bent atan angle relative to the reversibly bent section 226 and oriented in adirection towards the vessel wall.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the pointed tipsection 228 of each filter leg 214 has a reduced height, indicatedgenerally by bracket 230. The reduction in height of the pointed tipsection 228 further reduces the overall profile of the filter 210,allowing the device to be loaded into a smaller introducer catheter orsheath.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the distal portion of anintravascular filter 310 in accordance with an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein the filter legs are arranged in opposingsets, each set spaced longitudinally from each other. As shown in FIG.6, intravascular filter 310 comprises a first set 332 of filter legs, asection set of filter legs 334 of greater length than the first set offilter legs 332, and third set of filter legs 336 of greater length thansecond set of filter legs 334. Each set of filter legs 332, 334, 336includes a hook region 320 having a main section 322, a reversibly bentsection 324 bent through an angle of about 180° in the plane tangentialto the conical configuration of the filter leg 314 and disposed paralleland contiguous to the main section 324, and a pointed tip section 326bent at an angle relative to the reversibly bent section 326.

Each set of filter legs 332, 334, 336 may include a pair of opposingfilter legs that are configured to radially expand in opposing fashionwithin the vessel. The first, second, and third sets of filter legs 332,334, 336 each differ in length such that the hook regions 320 a, 320 b,320 c on each set of filter legs 332, 334, 336 are longitudinally spacedapart from each other, thus providing a staggered arrangement thatreduces the profile of the filter 310 when collapsed, and reduces thelikelihood that the hook regions 220 a, 220 b, 220 c on each filter leg214 will interfere with each other when radially expanded.

FIG. 7 is a view of intravascular filter 310 along line 7-7, showing thecross-sectional diameter of each set of filter legs 332, 334, 336. Asshown in FIG. 7, the diameter of the third (i.e. longest) set of filterlegs 336 may have a cross-sectional diameter greater than thecross-sectional diameter of the first and second set of filter legs 332,334, which are reduced in diameter. In certain embodiments, for example,the diameter of the third set of filter legs 336 may be about 0.018inches, whereas the diameter of the first and second set of filter legs332, 334 may be about 0.016 inches.

The amount of radial force each set of filter legs 332, 334, 336 exertson the wall of the vessel is dependent on several factors, including thediameter of the wire, and the nominal (i.e. static) base diameter of thefilter 310. To compensate for the reduction of diameter of the first andsecond set of filter legs 332, 334, the overall base diameter of thefilter 310 may be increased. In certain embodiments, for example, thebase diameter of the filter can be increased from 38.5 mm to 55 mm toenable ligation within a vessel having a size in the range of 14 mm to28 mm. It should be understood, however, that the necessary expansion inthe base diameter is dependent on many factors, including the dimensionsand composition of the filter legs, and the size of the vessel.

Having thus described the several embodiments of the present invention,those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that other embodimentsmay be made and used which fall within the scope of the claims attachedhereto. Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this documenthave been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understoodthat this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changesmay be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size andarrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An intravascular filter device for placementwithin a blood vessel, comprising: a plurality of elongated filter legseach having a proximal section, a distal section, and a length, eachelongated filter leg including a hook region configured to engage ablood vessel wall; wherein a first plurality of the plurality of filterlegs differs in length from a second plurality of the plurality offilter legs such that the hook region on said at least the firstplurality of elongated filter legs is longitudinally offset from thehook region on the second plurality of elongated filter legs.
 2. Theintravascular filter device of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofelongated filter legs is biased to radially expand from a collapsedposition to an expanded position when deployed in the blood vessel. 3.The intravascular filter device of claim 2, wherein a profile of theintravascular filter in the collapsed position is between 5 and 12 Fr.4. The intravascular filter device of claim 1, wherein each elongatedfilter leg of the plurality of elongated filter legs are uniform incross-sectional diameter.
 5. The intravascular filter device of claim 1,wherein at least one elongated filter leg of the plurality of elongatedfilter legs differs in cross-sectional diameter from another elongatedfilter leg.
 6. The intravascular filter device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of elongated filter legs are formed of a metal.
 7. Theintravascular filter device of claim 6, wherein said metal isshape-memory metal.
 8. The intravascular filter device of claim 1,wherein the plurality of elongated filter legs further comprises a thirdplurality of elongated filter legs.
 9. The intravascular filter deviceof claim 8, such that the hook region on said third plurality ofelongated filter legs is longitudinally offset from the hook region onthe first plurality of elongated filter legs and is longitudinallyoffset from the hook region of the second plurality of elongated filterlegs.
 10. The intravascular filter device of claim 1, wherein the hookregion of each of the second plurality of elongated filter legscomprises a main section, a reversibly bent section, and a pointed tipsection.
 11. The intravascular filter device of claim 10, wherein thereversibly bent section of each of the second plurality of elongatedfilter legs is disposed at an angle relative to the main sectionthereof.
 12. The intravascular filter device of claim 10, wherein thereversibly bent section of each of the second plurality of elongatedfilter legs is disposed contiguous to the main section and is adapted toform a landing pad that prevents the pointed tip section from distendingthe blood vessel wall.
 13. The intravascular filter device of claim 8,wherein the hook region of each of the third plurality of elongatedfilter legs comprises a main section, a reversibly bent section, and apointed tip section.
 14. The intravascular filter device of claim 13,wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the third plurality ofelongated filter legs is disposed at an angle relative to the mainsection thereof.
 15. The intravascular filter device of claim 13,wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the third plurality ofelongated filter legs is disposed contiguous to the main section and isadapted to form a landing pad that prevents the pointed tip section fromdistending the blood vessel wall.
 16. The intravascular filter device ofclaim 1, further comprising an apical head coupled to the proximalsection of each of said plurality of elongated filter legs.
 17. Theintravascular filter device of claim 1, further comprising an apicalhead coupled to the distal section of each of said plurality ofelongated filter legs.
 18. The intravascular filter device of claim 1,wherein the hook region of the plurality of elongated filter legs isadapted to engage the blood vessel wall.